Egg-packing machine.



' Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

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11. 11. s101111V EGG IYAUKAING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 'MAY a, 190s.

vPatented Mar.16,19o9.

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EGG PAOKING MAUEINE. APPLIUATIoN FILED Muze, 190s.

Patented Mar. 16,1909.

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HARVEY HURBERT STORY, OF' BUTTE, NEBRASKA.

E GG-BA. CKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 1e, 1909.

Application filed May 28, 1908. Serial No. 435,425.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, HARVEY HURBERT STORY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Butte, in the county of Boyd and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Egg-Packing Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My improvements relate atoa novel means of assembling a number of-eggs transferred from a container in bulk, to nest with a standard packing cap, and to transfer the eggs thus assembled to the cap and the objects of my invention are iirst, to provide a simple and eiiicient meansof'transferring a quantity of eggs in bulk to a numerical container, whereby facility is aii'orded in dealing them out to a'purchaser in number; and second, to facilitate their packing for transportation and insure their protection against breakage, all of which l accomplish by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a top plan view of my improved egg packing machine, together with a number of eggs introduced in a cap after being assembled by the machine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevational view of a portion thereof, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the remaining portion of the machine beyond andk being partly broken away g Fig. 3 is a similar transverse section taken on the line 3-3 ci Fig. 1, in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional, elevational view of the egg assembling or adjusting table of the machine, with a section of a superimposed cap in register with thenassembled eggs carried thereby; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the cap resting upon the assembling table and the eggs 'transferred to the cap; Fig. 6 is a detail side elevational view of my improved packer detached from the machine and superimposed on the packing table carrying the battening springs and guides Fig. 7 is a like view showing the packer inverted and the packing table uppermost; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary d etail plan view of the plunger head which carries the partitioning forks for grouping the eggs for assemblage with the cap or frame and Fig. 9 is a contracted cross sectional elevational view of one end of the packer adj acent to the assembling table of the machine, taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

ln the several figures, similar characters of reference designate like parts.

A is a padded chute, around the marginal edges of which rises a framing a. This, to-

gether with the chute ,converges at its inner extremity where it meets the assembling table B.- From the assembling table B rises a rectangular framing b, whichregisters with the framing a of the chute A, rl `he latter is preferably of wood and is padded on the bottom and` sides, as indicated at l a. A transverse screen of'wire mesh orfstrong fabric lA interrupts the continuity of the iloor of the' chute A and is adjacently situated to the assembling table B, and depending from the chute is an open hopper 2f* and vertically beneath the hopper is a receptacle 3^, adapted to receive from the hopper 2A `any material sifted through the screen 1A. Y

lt is expedientto state at this juncture that the disposition of the chute A carrying the screen 1A and depending hopper 2A and the receptacle 3A, with respect to the assembling table B, is such as V`to provide a carrier for the delivery ofthe eggs to the machine and a cleaner for the eggs in bulk, when packed in sawdust or bran. The eggs being dumped from a bulk packing together with said packing material, upon the chute A, roll down and pass overthe screen 1A, and bran or other packing material falls through the screen 1A into a hopper 2A and deposited in the receptacle or box 3A, while the eggs roll on to the assembling table B. ltfwill be understood, however, that in most instances Y the eggs are marketed in pails, crates, baskets and boxes, without packing material, and in such cases a heavy cloth is placed over the eggs in the container and the container is inverted and it and the clcthk are removed, leaving the eggs in the chute A. The assembling table B likewise carries a padding l a and throughout protects theshells of the eggsV from crackingwhile they are tumblin in` passing 'over the chute A and assemb ing table B. rl`he latter is provided with a plurality of transverse and longitudinal perforations 1B and 2B, respectively, in parallel rows and in af manner to form rectangular nesting divisions of the table B. In the instance illustrated, the said table has its surface divided into six parallel rowsY of nestings, in transverse and longitudinal alinement, which affords thirty-six nests or compartments.

Vertical columns 2b, secured to the under side of the table B, support it, as well as the chute A. Playing vertically between the columns 2b u nder the table B and parallel thereto, is a plunger head 3B, carried by a cylindrical metal reciprocatory column 3b and brackets 4b. The column 3b passes in bearing relation through a cross bearing b and has a set screwed, slidingly adjustable stop collar 5b, which is normally su ported together with the column 3b and tab e 3B by the horizontal cross bearing b between the columns 2b of the machine. The stop collar 5ID is positively seated on the crossbearing b by a pair of retracting springs 6b, which are parallel with the column 3b and are secured thereto Aat one of their extremities, by a yoke 7b,

while their opposite extremities engage eye bolts 8b driven into the cross bearing b and exert a downward pull upon the column 3b and table B. The lower terminal of the column 3b is coupled with a horizontal pedal lever 9b, ivoted to a bracket 10b depending from and) secured to the cross bearing b, whereby upon the depression of the pedal lever 9b, the column 3b together with the plunger head 3B, will be raised against the` tensional force of the retraction springs 6b and gravitation, until the plunger head 3B abuts on the under side of the table B, and further upward motion of the column 3b will be arrested.

Secured to and carried by the plunger head 3B, are a plurality of vertical, upwardly-projecting forks C, formed preferably of strips of tin plate bent to form substantially staples, and are disposed upon the plunger head 3B in groups, to register res ectively with oppositely situated parallel s ots 2B in the table B, and correspondingly nesting slots 1B at right angles thereto. The arrangement of the said forks C upon the plunger head 3B is such as to present the two opposite, parallel limbs of one fork C to the corresponding perforations 2B of the table B, and the adjacent limbs of two neighboring forks to corresponding perforations of the same nest or compartment of the table B. Half forks 1C secured to and carried by the plunger head 3B, provide for deficiencies in the unequal divisions afforded by the fork groups along the margins of the head 3B. The altitude of the forks C and 1C is made equal to the vertical distance from the paddmg 1ZL of the table B to the upper surface of the head 3B, when the latter is in its normal position or that indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and equal to the major axis of the eggs together with the thickness of the table B and padding laplus a limited amount of clearance, as indicated in Fig. 4. l/Vhen the lever 9b is depressed to an extent which will bringthe head 3B in contact with the table B, the forks C and lC willbe projected through the slots 1B and 2B respectively, presenting in the instance illustrated, six rows of nests or compartments in transverse alinement respectively, making thirty-six pockets for the assembling table B, thus providing for the assembling of thirty-six eggs at one operation of the lever 9b.

In lateral alinement with the assembling table B is my improved packing table D. This is carried revolubly by a` stand d in which revolves a pillar l d, carrying a cap 2 d. One terminal Yof the revolving table D, adj acent to the columns or legs 2b ofthe assembling table B, is provided with a pivoted latch 3d, which engages a notch 4d in the cross tie 5d of the legs 2b of the assembling table B. Carried by the table D is the floor 1D of the packer, of the same dimensions as the table D, and is provided at both extremities, longitudinally with respect to the assembling table B, with handles 6d. The packer floor 1D carries helical compression springs 2D at opposite extremities, in alinement with the handles 6d, upon which springs are carried filler boards 3D, adapted to play vertically between the four angular corner guides 4D, two of which rise from and are secured to the two outer corners and the remaining two to the opposite corresponding portions ofthe floor 1D to that of the terminal of the filler board 3D adjacent to the axial line of the pillar 1d. To the under side of the filler board 3D and at opposite extremities thereof, are secured brackets 5D, to which are pivotally swung the transverse expanding and contracting lazy-tongs 6D; these are correspondingly secured to the packer iioor lD by similar brackets 7D. The office of these lazy-tongs GD is to effect a sort of damping to the activity of the springs 2D, by virtue of the stiffness of their joints, due to friction, whereby when the ller board 3D is slightly depressed against the tension of the springs 2D, it will remain so depressed by virtue of the friction at the joints of the lazy-tongs 6D. The filler boards 3D carry on their under sides and at their terminal edges, cross frames 8D, which stiffen the filler board and as well, afford parallel guidance to the latter while it is playing vertically in the corner guides 4D. The upper terminals of these guides lie in the same plane with the upper surface of the assembling table B, and the surface of the filier board 3D is adapted to be carried upwardly by its springs 2D toV surface therewith.

A rectangular removable top frame E, provided with corner studs e engaging the upper terminals of the angular guides 4D, registers with the framing I) of the assembling table B, and at this juncture, the frame E is cross braced by a cleat 1e. Adjacent to the cleat 1e and carried normally vertically by the assembling table B, is a transverse hinged door 1E, held upright by a leaf spring 2E. The hinged door 1E, when forced downward (or open) against the force of the spring 2E, will lie upon the cleat le, and when the filler board 3D is uppermost, a continuous path is thus established between the packer and assembler for the transportation of eggs' from the latter to the former. f This is effected by sliding the eggs from the surface of the assembling table B to the alined filler board 3D, by means of a cap or nest, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

In Figs. 6 and '7, F indicates an egg case or crate having a bottoni and which contains the egg caps or fillers, each containing thirty-six eggs, and the number of layers in the height of the case which will be accommodated by the same, is limited by the capacity of the case and packer, while the length of the case is sufficient for two caps or nests of thirty-six eggs.

Y G is a rack or table for carrying a supply of capsor, as they are sometimes termed, fillers or nests, and l is a similar rack or table, adapted to carry cardboard or other suitable separators, and H is a padded box for eggs which have been removed from the assembling table B, in case more eggs than are necessary at any particular time are assembled upon said table.

Y lft will be understood that the eggs are delivered to the retailer by the producer in varying quantities, and to operate my improved Yegg packing machine, it being assumed that the assembling table B is in alinement with the filler board 3D, and the plunger 8B in the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, l take a quantity of eggs, say, seven dozen, the same being dumped from the container upon thechute A, and due to the inclination of the chute the eggs will roll over its padded surface, together with the packing material, if any be present, until the screen lA is reached, whereu ,on said packing material will be precipitate through the screen to the hop er 2^ and thence to the receptacle 3^, whilb the eggs will pass on or be manually moved by the operator until the eggs reach the assembling table B, whereupon the pedal lever 9b which carries the column 3b against the force Aof its springs 6b upwardly together with the plunger 3B and assembling or grouping forks C and 1C, and dueto the vibratory motion of these members, imparted by the operator, the eggs will be shaken into the osition indicated in Fig. 4 on the assembling table B and will be nested between the said forks as shown likewise in plan in Fig. 1. While the eggs are thus nested, the operator maintains his downward pressure on the pedal 9b and takes a folded cap or filler from the rack G and unfolding it, to square the nests, places it over the forks C and 1C and the eggs in register, and while thus holding it, he lowers theforks C and 1C by relaxing his pressure on the edal 9b until the cap rests upon the assem ling table B, and the cap or filler and tlie forks will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 5. ll have indicated this cap in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 as The operator throws down the door 1E, preferably by the right hand, and with the left hand slides the cap together with the eggs up the slight incline now presented by the upper surface of the door 1E and upper surface of the filler board 3D, onto the Vlatter until it is within the bounding edges thereof. The next operation is to depress the filler board Snagainst the thrust of the springs 2D and the friction, due to the stiffness of the joints of the lazytongs 6D, until the upper surface of the cap is in alinernent with the surface of the door 1E. The door is automatically released as soon as the filler is slid over it, or before the filler is pressed down.

A separating board J is next applied to the upper surface of the filler cap over theeggs, and the operation for filling is repeated. The separating board J, in this instance, answers for the filler board, and after a number of caps in layers within the capacity of the packer (which in the instance illustrated is for five layers) has in this way been filled, the operation is interrupted and the frame E is removed, whereupon the table D is unlatched from the cross bar 5d and swung through an angle of 180O and the` opposite end thereof is automatically latchedat the same point, and upon the positioning of the frame E, the operation of laying up an' equal number of similar layers at the opposite extremity of the packer is similarly proceeded with, until filled. The packer will now be filled with ten caps of thirty-six eggs each and upon the removal of the frame E, the eggs will be in readiness for casing, to accomplish which, the case is placed on the packer and the floor iD of the packer is then grasped by the handles 6d and the same, together with its contents, is removed and placed upon a table or floor or other support. An uncovered, transversely partitioned egg packing case F is next slipped telescopingly over the packer and caps as illustrated in Fig. 5, bottom up, until the bottomf of the case rests upon the separator board of the adjacent caps on either side of the partition, whereupon it is inverted, together with its contents, and will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 7. The packer may now be -grasped by the handles 6d and removed from the case F and the exposed eggs being covered with the necessary protecting material, such as straw or packing board, the ease may be nailed up and transported.

Referring again more particularly to the box H, we will assume that seven dozen eggs have been brought'together upon the assembling table B. From this number l proceed to pack two rlayers (six dozen) leaving one dozen upon the assembling table and such excess is then transferred to the box H, to

be resorted to in the event ofihny shortage of eggs for the next packing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: l

l. In an egg packing machine, the combination of a chute, a device for assembling the eggs, each in a separate compartment, and a packing device cooperating therewith.

In an egg packing machine, the combination of a chute, a device cooperating With the chute for assembling the eggs, each in a separate compartment, means in the chute for separating the eggs from the packing material, and a packing device cooperating withthe assembling device,

3. In an egg packing apparatus, a table for receiving the eggs, and means for nesting the eggs on the table, each in a separate nest.

4l. In an egg packing apparatus, a table for receiving the eggs, a chute for delivering the eggs to the table, and means for nesting the eggs on the table, each in a separatenest,

5. In an egg packing apparatus, a table for receiving the eggs, and reciprocating means for nesting the eggs on the table, each in a separate nest, said means serving as a support for a cap whereby When the nesting means is lowered the eggs Will be nested in the cap.

6.` An egg packing apparatus comprising a table for receiving the eggs, reciprocating means for nesting the eggs, each in a separatene'st, when moved in one direction and transferring them to a packing cap When moved in the other direction, and a packing device for receiving the cap of eggs from the said table.

7. In an egg packing apparatus, an egg conveyer, an egg grouping and nesting device communicating With the conveyer and adapted to receive eggs from the conveyer and nest the same each in a separate nest, and a packing device coacting with the nesting device adapted to pack the nests of eggs in layers. In an egg packing apparatus, an egg delivery chute, and an egg grouping and nesting device cooperating therewith, adapted to Erst assemble the eggs delivered by the chute each in a separate nest, and then transfer them to a packing cap.

9. In an egg packing apparatus, an egg delivery chute, an egg grouping and nesting device cooperating therewith, adapted to first assemble the eggs delivered by the chute each in a separate nest and then transfer them to a packing cap, and an egg packing device adapted to receive and pack the caps and coacting with the nesting device.

l0. In an egg packing apparatus, a chute provided With a screen, a nesting device communicating With the chute and adapted to receive eggs therefrom and nest them, each in a separate nest, and then transfer them to packing caps and packing mechanism, adapted to a superimpose the capped eggs, coacting With the nesting device.

1I. In an egg packing machine, a perforated table, a chute coacting therewith, partitions registering With the perforations in the table, means for projecting the partitions above the table, and a second communicatingtable depressible With relation to the perforated table.

l2. In an egg packing machine, a perforated nesting table, partitions disposed in the perforations in the table, and means for projecting thev partitions above the table in said perforations.

13. In an egg packing machine, a perforated nesting table, partitions disposed in the perforations in the table and normally projecting below the table, and means for projecting the partitions above the table to provide nests.

14. `In an egg packing machine, a perforatednesting table,nesting partitions disposed in the perforations in the table and normally retracted from the surface thereof, a vertically acting plunger carrying the partitions, and means coacting With the plunger and part ions for projecting the latter above the surface of the table.

l5. In an egg packing machine, a perforated nesting table, nesting vertically dispos-ed partitions having their upper terminals disposed in the perforations and normally retracted to the surface of the table, a vertically-acting plunger beneath the table carrying the partitions, and means coacting with the plunger and partitions for projecting the latter above the surfaces of the table and nesting the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARVEY HURBERT STORY. litnesses M. L. I-IoNKn, J. A. ADAMsoN. 

